This is a very curious development indeed since the Unwanted Horse Coalition supports horse slaughter so it is not surprising that a livestock publication would break the news. We wonder about this new alliance. Palmetto is one of the carriage companies that works out of hot and humid Charleston and uses wagons with one horse pulling 17 people. Carriage horse companies want the public to believe they love their horses and treat them like family members. Revealing where the horses end up when no longer wanted is not something that is made public.

NYC: In NYC, between 60 and 70 horses turn over (leave the business) in a year. My 7 1/2 year study, published in 2013, documents this. Because horses are privately owned, there is no paper trail available to the public to track where they went. We do not know if a horse was retired to a nice home; sold to another business; or ended up at a kill auction where he was purchased by a kill buyer to fulfill his quota for the slaughter houses. The latter is exactly what happened to Bobby II Freedom in 2010. A NYC carriage horse at the time, he was deemed too old by his owner and brought to the New Holland livestock auction where he was purchased by a kill buyer. Hoping to get more money than the "by the pound" rate offered by the slaughter houses, the dealer put Bobby up for adoption for a few days. Luckily I found him on Friday, June 25th the day before he was scheduled to return to the kill pen. Bobby is currently living a wonderful life at Equine Advocates Sanctuary where he is much loved. The NY Times wrote about his rescue.

Bobby II Freedom - the one who got away.

This was a great embarrassment to the industry and we never again learned of another carriage horse horse ending up at the auctions. They became more careful. The horses were still moved out when no longer able to work, but the way it was done was more surreptitious. We suspect that owners do not take their horses directly to auction but instead launder them through Amish farmers who may work the horse for several months before bringing him to auction for sale. This way, their participation at the auctions is minimal. We also believe that the 4-digit engraved hoof number that allowed us to identify Bobby is sanded down so it is not identifiable.

UNWANTED HORSE COALITION: We wonder why this Charleston carriage horse company felt the need to join up with an organization that defends and advocates for horse slaughter. The Unwanted Horse Coalition is part of the Animal Welfare Council, anintentionally misleading name. This article from their web site is very telling in their position about horse slaughter and animal rights activists.

Please read it thoroughly. It is very revealing and informative but it is also full of lies - such as "There is nothing that makes horses different than any other livestock animal." This is fundamentally false since horses are not raised for human consumption and are often treated with a myriad of drugs, many of them known carcinogens. The "back door route" referred to in the title of this piece was put into place by Vice President Joe Biden in 2014 at the urging of anti-horse slaughter activists because they knew it was virtually impossible to get Congress - with all their special interests - to pass a ban on horse slaughter. There was great concern that profitable horse slaughter plants would once again open in the US. This initiative removed funding for horse meat inspectors, thus accomplishing the same goal -- no horse slaughter plants. But look at what the Animal Welfare Council says about this:The United States slaughters and exports beef, pork, and chicken, all of
which are killed humanely under regulated inspection, but [consuming]
horse meat—which is consumed by the majority of world cultures including
our closest neighbors in Canada, Iceland, Mexico, and South America;
which appears on the menus of the finest restaurants in Europe; and
which is purveyed in grocery stores right alongside the other meats all
over Asia and Polynesia—would be a felony for Americans. Horse meat was
widely consumed in the United States and Britain until the late 1940s….While we oppose the consumption of all animals and do not think one deserves more compassion than the other, it must be pointed out that horses are shot full of drugs that are very harmful to humans, and unlike cows, chickens and pigs are not specifically raised for human consumption. Besides, slaughter of these "food" animals is bad enough -- why make it worse by adding another animal to the mix. Where do we stop? Are cats and dogs next?

Please sign up for e-mail alerts from both the Equine Welfare Alliance and Equine Advocates on horse welfare issues. EQUINE WELFARE ALLIANCE

There
is very real concern that the Trump administration is heading in the
direction of opening up horse slaughter facilities once again. Please stay
informed about this issue and be ready to take action. ###

Sunday, October 30, 2016

"If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth"
--a profound and disturbing quote
attributed to Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Propaganda Minister in Nazi
Germany,but also to Vladimir Lenin, founder
of theRussian Communist party.

This is
exactly what happened with the defeat of the campaign to ban the inhumane and
archaic horse-drawn carriage trade in NYC, something that any caring, civilized
people would have done long ago. It is unmanageable and an ongoing embarrassment to the city.

Those who
wanted to defeat the horse-drawn carriage ban included the self-serving Teamsters and
other unions, carriage owners and drivers, many politicians – and the media – mostly
the NY Daily News – all with their own reasons – but getting behind the real
truth had nothing to do with it.

NYC horse collapses - Sept. 2, 2016

Loss of Good Union Jobs: The main lie
was that the shuttering of this trade would cause a loss of “good union
jobs.”That claim was not only not questioned by many Council Members but was used to make their case to people who believe
everything they read. They wanted union support when they came up for reelection. Truth be damned.

Stable Land: The second
lie was that the real estate developers were lusting over the stable land so
they could make lots of money putting up luxury apartment buildings.

Both of
these lies resonated with people – job loss and unfairness by the real estate
industry – David and Goliath.But to
those of us who know the truth it just confirmed that too many people believe
what they read and hear and do not exercise critical thinking.Other lies did not quite catch on as well but
served as the cake icing to support the big lies – the number of horses who have
died while working in the trade; horses would go to slaughter; the age of the industry to make it appear
iconic; exaggerated size of stalls; horse vacations;industry regulated by several city agencies
with pages and pages of regulations; highly exaggerated financial contribution
to the economy; safety being a non-issue.Start with one lie – and if it catches on and the chumps buy it, then the sky’s the limit.

I have
written about this many times in my blogs– challenging the media – especially
the NY Daily News for perpetuating lie after lie to ensure that the carriage
industry remains in NYC.It has now been
ten months since the failure of the ill-conceived bill that foolishly proposed building
stables in Central Park but it seems that this phony issue is still rearing its
ugly head.

Samuelsen
did a good deed last January when he came to the defense of the pedicab drivers
who were being shafted by the City via the proposed legislation – but they
never unionized so one wonders if this ploy was just to get attention.He obviously has his own ax to grind with
the mayor – and I say – have at it – but not on the backs of the horses please,
promoting lies. Does Mr. Samuelson have so little respect for his supporters that he will lie to make a point?

This is from the Daily News article and I
have highlighted the lies with my comments below challenging them.

“Real estate interests, meanwhile, for years have been
drooling over the West
Side properties where the popular horse carriage drivers stable their
beloved animals. Giving tourists rides through Central Park is a pretty good union job. It has
allowed many men and women to put food on the table, and put their children
through college.

What did de Blasio
do? He repeatedly tried to prohibit carriage rides in the city and wipe out hundreds of jobs.That would have set the
stage for real estate barons to finally buy the properties and put up more skyscrapers
that 99% of New Yorkers can't even afford.

In
seeking the ban, the mayor claimed he was concerned about the horses' health
and welfare. Another crock. He never even bothered to actually visit the
stables. And as the New
York Daily News reported, independent experts said horses are "healthy,
happy and well cared for."

As
one veterinarian said in The News: "These horses are being treated with
pride and compassion, often by their individual owners/drivers.It never was about the horses. It was about Bill
and his campaign donors and proxy attack dogs in the real-estate industry. The
mayor clearly sided with the ultra-rich real estate industry (aka his campaign
donors) over the trade union movement and all workers.”

Whoa: This has been very successful propaganda.Babes in the woods, de Blasio and his
administration did not stand a chance.De Blasio was never adequately prepared about
the carriage horse issue and either would or could not challenge the lies
coming from the unions, Council Members and the media.He did not even know the language of the
original bill, talking about the electric cars in a question and answer event
in the Mid West.He, like most
Democratic politicians, are beholden to the unions.

Why: Why was the NY Daily News out to get
him – obviously using this issue as a metaphor for something else. Perhaps it was because they never wanted him to be Mayor.

Unions, on the other hand, are losing membership throughout the country. By taking this
issue on, lying about the good union jobs – and winning – it was hoped to elevate their
status.

Construction Union Jobs: The far west
side is part of massive new construction to gentrify the area.To even suggest that real estate developers
are drooling over the paltry stable property is embarrassing.These
are relatively small plots, which could bring the owners at least $10
million for each one if they decided to sell, which is their choice and not a land
grab as some has suggested.

Hudson Yards is the biggest development project
in the city since Rockefeller Center was built in the 1930s, translating into hundreds of union
jobs.New construction may well grow up
around the stables, leaving the stable owners with devalued property. The ultimate joke will be on them.

The irony over this silly dishonest claim is that new construction
brings UNION JOBS.Mr. Samuelson and his
Teamster friends are being disingenuous. Unions have benefited greatly by the
growth of construction all over the city, but particularly Hudson Yards and the
adjacent areas.The construction jobs in Hudson Yards has been a windfall for the unions.

Good Union Jobs for carriage drivers?No way.Of the approximately 244 carriage-driving
licenses, only about 120 drivers belong to the Teamster local.Without total participation, it is not a
“union shop” and there are no benefits.This means no medical, sick or vacation days – and certainly no 401ks to
save for retirement.So to even hint
that this is a good union job compared to what the MTA workers have is
insulting to all of us – not the least to loyal union members.This
ploy was to bring down Mayor de Blasio and he was not astute enough to fight
back.It also propped up the owners of
the 68 medallions, most of whom pay little in city income taxes because of
their extensive deductions in a cash only business.

As for those “independent” experts who
claim the horses live a great life – name them please with all of their
affiliations.We do know that the “study”
that showed how calm city horses are was paid for by the carriage trade and only tested on a handful of horses.

NOT a good union job.

About unions: I generally support unions – they helped
create the middle class. But this is not about the value of unions - it is about the ethics and morality of lying to get your way, which must be indefensible in a civilized, democratic society. The truth is that unions are in deep trouble all over the United
States.But lying to get attention will
not ultimately help.

Yes, I have had the "audacity" to criticize the unions here - but please – no death threats. It has happened before. Vicious comments on the blog - anonymous or not - will be deleted and/or reported. You will not get your 15 minutes of fame on my dime.

This is a link to the accident record
we have kept.It does not include the “accident’
that occurred on Labor Day weekend, pictured above, when a driver forced his horse to make a
turn and the horse collapsed.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

This was a tragic accident that occurred on January 2, 2006. Spotty, a
5-year old gelding was heading back to West Side Livery stable when he
spooked at something. Terrified, he bolted into traffic, crashing into a
station wagon and wrapping himself over the top. His leg was broken
and he lost his life that fateful night. The industry should have been shut down - but it wasn't. This horrific accident was the impetus for us to begin a campaign to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC. That was 10 years ago and we have not wavered

HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE ACCIDENTS - THE HARSH TRUTH

FACT: There is no requirement in the law for carriage
horse drivers to report carriage accidents. If a driver can get away
with it, he will not report the accident. Likewise, if the NYPD is
involved, it is up to them whether or not they file a report.
Considering these obstacles, it is surprising the list below is so
extensive.

HORSE ARE PRODUCTS: In this city, horses are
considered PRODUCT to be discarded when they are no longer useful. We
have a City Council made up of members who mostly do not care about the
suffering of animals or of human safety and we have a Mayor who has an
unreasonable and strange allegiance to the unions and never took the
time to know and understand this issue and to fight for what was right.

WORST OFFENDER: The NY Daily News has been the worst
offender in spreading lies about this issue, but other media outlets
went along. On August 16, 2012, in an article entitled "Carriage Horse Breaks Free Near Central Park," NBC quoted carriage driver, Christina Hansen,"we've really had only a handful of accidents." This is a lie as evidenced by the list below, which is a lot more than a "handful." The trade also likes to claim that "only 3 horses have died in traffic accidents in 30 years."This is deceitful and a lie of omission
because it does not include all the many horses who have died from
dropping dead on the street like Charlie; spooking and running into a
tree like Smoothie; or Clancy who died in the stable from unknown
causes. We can account for 23 carriage horse deaths in 33 years - and those are just the ones we know.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ACCIDENTS: Of the 98 documented accidents, 50 have
occurred since 2009. There has no doubt been many more accidents but
these are the ones that have been documented. It is very difficult to
document horse-drawn carriage accidents, because there is no requirement
to report them, and there have been many hit-and-runs by carriages
drivers. Increased awareness of animal welfare and the ubiquity of
recording devices have enabled us to know of more accidents than
hitherto--but it is reasonable to suppose that many remain unknown.

The Daily News reported in 2006 (before their anti-deBlasio campaign) that according to "City records,"
carriage drivers' inexperience with horses, incompetence, and negligence
were the leading causes of carriage accidents. Because all horses
have evolved to spook, all horses may spook, however trained. But an
experienced, competent, and conscientious horse handler has a
much better chance of forestalling a spook, bringing the horse out of a
spook, or minimizing its consequences. New York City has the highest
horse-drawn carriage accident rate in the country.

In the list below, accidents in "Central Park & Environs" are in bold face. Accidents in the "Stables and Elsewhere" are in plain type. And accidents "Location Unknown" are in italics. We have only posted two pictures - that of Spotty who was killed on January 2, 2006 on the streets of NYC. Please look at our web page for more information

LIST OF ALL KNOWN DOCUMENTED HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE ACCIDENTS IN NEW YORK CITY SINCE 1982(50 in Central Park & Environs; 39 in the Stables & Elsewhere;

(Note:
{0}, is the original item number for each accident in the document,
"Necessity To Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages In New York City," where
the sources, documentation, and full details for each accident can be
found (including news reports, police reports, eyewitness accounts,
photos, videos, etc.), on pages 490 - 655. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY BE
RELEASED.

Many thanks to the person who compiled this list)

1) January 19, 2016. Spartacus
spooked during a carriage industry rally at a Midtown stable, sending
bystanders running for cover. {1a} (Stables & Elsewhere) See
Spartacus's previous spooking accident, April 23, 2014.2) October
27, 2015. 19-year old carriage horse Stella's carriage, pulling
passengers, collided with a taxi at 62nd St. & Broadway. {2a}
(Central Park & Environs)3) August
13, 2015. A teen on her bicycle and a horse-drawn carriage collided in
Central Park. The 15 year-old tourist, visiting the park for her
birthday with her mother, was treated for minor injuries. {3a}
(Central Park & Environs)4) April
15, 2015. Older veteran carriage horse Fury spooked, broke free,
escaped from Chateau Stables, and galloped down West 48th Street without
a driver. Chateau Stables, 608 W. 48th St. between 11th & 12th
Aves. {43} (Stables & Elsewhere)5) February
13, 2015. TICKLES DIES. 18-year-old Tickles was discovered in his
stall at Clinton Park Stables with a fractured leg, cause unknown, and
was euthanized in his stall. No investigation was held. Clinton Park
Stables, 618 W. 52nd Street, between 11th & 12th Aves. {44}
(Stables & Elsewhere)6) October
19, 2014. Carriage horse Barney broke free and escaped, running for
blocks against traffic in Hell's Kitchen, pursued by police cars.
Hell's Kitchen. {45} (Stables & Elsewhere)7) June
10, 2014. Pumpkin spooked at the 59th St. hack line, ran wildly
through Central Park and several streets, pulling his empty carriage
before heading back to Central Park South and smashing into an open
taxicab door. Pumpkin was retired to farm work. Central Park. {1}
(Central Park & Environs)8) April
23, 2014. Spartacus was spooked by a bus and fell, pinned to the
ground by his overturned carriage. When raised up, Spartacus was
limping. Central Park South, just west of 5th Avenue, across from the
Plaza Hotel. {2} (Central Park & Environs) (Spartacus spooked
again, January 19, 2016, sending bystanders running for cover.)9) December
20, 2013. Carriage driver Saverio Colarusso arrested for animal
cruelty for forcing carriage horse Blondie to work for four days while
visibly injured, in pain, and struggling to pull the carriage.
Colarusso had been previously charged with drinking on duty, driving at
unauthorized times, and other violations. Central Park. {3} (Central
Park & Environs)10) September
26, 2013. Carriage horse Chris spooked at Columbus Circle; his
carriage swung, smashed into a car, and overturned onto the horse,
trapping Chris under the damaged carriage. The carriage driver Frank
Luo had been charged the previous day for violations of regulations.
Columbus Circle. {4} (Central Park & Environs)11) September
14, 2013. A cab rear-ended a horse-drawn carriage when it stopped
suddenly. W. 48th St. & 10th Ave. {85} (Stables & Elsewhere)12) August
15, 2013. A horse-drawn carriage hit a parked car damaging the car,
and left the scene without reporting it. 210 Central Park South. {86}
(Central Park & Environs)13) June
14, 2013. A horse-drawn carriage hit and damaged a bike, and fled. W.
72nd St. & Central Park West. {87} (Central Park & Environs)14) June
5, 2013. A horse spooked and bolted into traffic after one of the
carriage shafts broke. He tried to free himself and his leg was cut
badly. 40th St. & 11th Ave. {46} (Stables & Elsewhere)15) March
23, 2013. A horse pulling a carriage from Central Park spooked and
reared up coming out of the park road. Central Park. {5} (Central Park
& Environs)16) February 7,
2013. A horse and carriage struck a woman's vehicle and left the scene.
210 Central Park South, 7th Avenue--Broadway. {79} (Central Park
& Environs)17) January 4,
2013. An exhausted-looking horse pulling carriage #1075, in the cold at
the end of the busy holiday season, collapsed coming out of the park,
after the driver dropped off his passengers, near 5th Avenue onto 59th
St. {6} (Central Park & Environs)18) December
8, 2012. A horse pulling carriage #1066 with six people got stuck
between cars on 6th Avenue at 51st/52nd Street. The horse spooked,
bolted, and ran two blocks. The driver jumped off. Passengers screamed
for help, and a running bystander was able to pull a young boy from the
carriage. The horse tried to run over some cars, but stopped when he
couldn't get beyond cars stopped for a light. 6th Ave. at 51st/52nd.
{47} (Stables & Elsewhere)19) December
3, 2012. A white Audi car was struck by a horse-drawn carriage that
left the scene. NE corner 8th Ave. & W. 56th St. {80} (Stables
& Elsewhere)20) November
12, 2012. 7-year-old carriage horse Henry, carrying a driver and three
passengers, stumbled and fell near Tavern on the Green in Central Park,
hurting his leg. In Central Park at W. 67th St. {7} (Central Park
& Environs)21) November
10, 2012. As a passenger was exiting a taxi by the rear door, a
horse-drawn carriage struck the door, causing damage to the vehicle.
The carriage driver fled the scene (hit and run). NE corner of 5th
Ave. & and E. 47th St. {81} (Stables & Elsewhere)22) October 2, 2012. A carriage horse spooked and bolted on 11th Avenue in the West 40's. {48} (Stables & Elsewhere)23) September
20, 2012. A horse spooked on 11th Avenue and 49th Street, slightly
injuring himself. The carriage was damaged. 11th Ave. & 49th St.
{49} (Stables & Elsewhere)24) August
16, 2012. Oreo spooked and bolted with passengers, four injured. With
the park and Columbus Circle jammed with people, Oreo spooked due to
noise on the hack line at Central Park South, throwing his driver, who
landed in the street, his leg bleeding. Oreo bolted with passengers in
the carriage, charging in terror, colliding with a double-parked BMW at
60th and Broadway, where his two passengers were thrown from the
carriage and injured, and then hitting another car and shedding the
remains of the wrecked carriage, he ran free to 57th St. and 9th Avenue,
where Oreo collapsed, tranquilized by police. In addition to the
driver (hospitalized at Bellevue with 26 stitches) and two passengers
(taken to hospital, one in a neck brace, strapped to a board), a police
officer pursuing Oreo was also hurt and treated at Roosevelt Hospital.
Oreo was pulled from the industry and adopted by a member of the
public. Spooked from Central Park to Columbus Circle to 57th St. &
9th Ave. {8} and {8b} and p. 650. (Central Park & Environs)25) June
19, 2012. A horse-drawn carriage hit a car and broke the back window.
The carriage fled the scene. SW corner Broadway & Columbus Circle.
{88} (Central Park & Environs)26) June
15, 2012. An accident involving a motor vehicle and a horse-drawn
carriage took place. The carriage driver refused information and fled
the scene. NW corner 7th Ave. & W. 55th Street. {89} (Stables
& Elsewhere)27) June
7, 2012. 12-year-old mare Doreen sustained a bleeding gash to her face
when an SUV hit her carriage and a motorcycle, and she was smacked
by the SUV, her head cracking the windshield. The police reported a 24
year old man "fell off a horse, bleeding from the knee." Columbus
Circle. {9} and p. 650. (Central Park & Environs)28) March
3, 2012. A horse, returning to the stable, spooked on 11th Avenue and
52nd Street, and bolted into congested traffic, dragging his empty,
overturned carriage into the street in tow. The horse finally fell to
the ground outside The Daily Show studio on 11th Avenue, south of 52nd
Street. The horse appeared to be shaking and frightened. 11th Ave.
& 52nd St. {50} (Stables & Elsewhere)29) February
14, 2012. A carriage horse injured his leg on Valentine's Day, one of
the times when carriage horses are worked the hardest. Central Park.
{10} (Central Park & Environs)30) December
4, 2011. Flash, pulling a carriage with three adults and a child,
collapsed on the street at the start of the holiday season. Grand Army
Plaza at 59th St. & 5th Ave. {11} (Central Park & Environs)31) November
4, 2011. Carriage horse Luke fell to the ground while pulling a
carriage during rush hour. 60th St. & Broadway. {12} (Central Park
& Environs)32) October 28,
2011. A horse unattended on the hack line on Central Park South near
Columbus Circle spooked and bolted at top speed into traffic, made a
U-turn, ran back into the park at 7th Avenue, skid, hit the curb,
flipped with the carriage, falling to his side, got up, ran into the
park again, crashed again into the curb, and stood, still tangled and
trapped in the harness of his overturned, wrecked empty carriage at West
& Center Drive. The horse is no longer in the industry. Central Park. {13} (Central Park & Environs)33) October 23, 2011. CHARLIE DIES.
Magnificent Percheron Charlie collapsed and died in the street en
route to work, on West 54th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Charlie
was found to be suffering from a gastric ulcer. Lack of turn out to
pasture and lack of forage, and the natural and full life that goes with
it, combined with stress, can quickly bring on gastric ulcers in
horses. W. 54th between 8th & 9th Aves. {51} (Stables &
Elsewhere)34) October 4, 2011. A
horse-drawn carriage struck a moving vehicle causing damage, and fled
the scene. NW corner 8th Ave. & W. 58th St. {90} (Stables &
Elsewhere)35) End of
July, 2011. A horse spooked and fell while pulling tourists in Central
Park. Frightened, the passengers jumped out of the carriage. The driver
made the horse go back to work. Central Park. {14} (Central Park
& Environs)36) July 25,
2011. A taxi rear-ended a horse-drawn carriage on Central Park South,
throwing a woman passenger onto the sidewalk bleeding, and the carriage
knocked the horse to the street, overturning on top of the horse, who
later managed to get back on his feet, with bleeding cuts. The three
passengers and the driver were injured, the driver in critical condition
with a bleeding head injury. Central Park South. {15} (Central Park
& Environs)37) July 16, 2011.
A carriage horse spooked and bolted, galloping out of control from
Grand Army Plaza & 5th Avenue up Central Park South to 7th Avenue,
hitting a taxi and a car on the way. Grand Army Plaza to Central Park
South & 7th Ave. {16} (Central Park & Environs)38) June
16, 2011. A horse-drawn carriage struck a truck, causing damage to the
side of the truck, and fled the scene. SE corner 11th Ave. & W.
56th St. {91} (Stables & Elsewhere)39) May
12, 2011. A horse-drawn carriage struck a delivery man riding his
bike, causing the man to fall off the bike, hurting his ankle and
breaking the bike. NE corner W. 54th St. & 11th Ave. {82}
(Stables & Elsewhere)40) November
3, 2010. A bus grazed a carriage horse on 7th Avenue near 54th Street
at 5:30 p.m., rush hour, when carriages are prohibited in the area. A
witness stated the horse "was spooked and evidently frightened out of
his or her wits." 7th Ave. near 54th St. {52} (Stables &
Elsewhere)41) May 11, 2010. A carriage horse collided with a taxi in Central Park. {17} (Central Park & Environs)42) May
1, 2010. A horse pulling a carriage spooked and ran into oncoming
traffic, sideswiping cars, at Central Park South and Columbus Circle.
{18} (Central Park & Environs)43) April
15, 2010. A horse-drawn carriage sideswiped a moving car and left the
scene. NW corner Broadway & Central Park South. {92} (Central Park
& Environs)44) April
1, 2010. A man was unloading packages from his parked vehicle, when a
horse-drawn carriage struck the vehicle, causing damage, and left the
scene. Ninth Ave. & W. 58th St. {93} (Stables & Elsewhere)45) March
30, 2010. A horse-drawn carriage hit the right side of a moving car
causing damage to side mirror, and left the scene. NE corner 8th Ave.
& W. 53rd St. {94} (Stables & Elsewhere)46) January
5, 2010. A horse-carriage collided with a vehicle, throwing the
carriage driver who lay unmoving on the ground, with EMS en route. The
spooked and panicked carriage horse broke free, ran toward 59th Street,
colliding with at least two parked cabs, kicking, and possibly injuring
or even breaking a leg. W. 60th St. & Columbus Avenue. {83}
(Central Park & Environs)47) November
23, 2009. A 6-year-old child fell out of a horse-drawn carriage in
which his family was riding, and was run over by the wheel, resulting in
stomach, chest, and head injuries; the child was rushed to New York
Presbyterian Hospital. 63rd St. & Center Drive. {84} (Central Park
& Environs)48) October 21,
2009. A horse-drawn carriage hit a moving car and fled the scene. SW
corner Avenue of the Americas & Central Park South. {95} (Central
Park & Environs)49) September
19, 2009. A taxi turning into Grand Army Plaza plowed into a parked
carriage, which had just dropped off passengers, at 60th Street and 5th
Avenue, knocking it over and smashing it, and then crashed into the
stone wall surrounding the park. Blackie the horse, free of the totaled
carriage, bolted for a couple of blocks. The carriage driver appeared
"seriously injured," and both drivers were hospitalized. 60th St. &
5th Ave. at Grand Army Plaza, Central Park. {19} (Central Park &
Environs)50) September, 2009. HORSE DIES.
A carriage horse caught his foot on a parking meter and had to be
euthanized. (Source: Then New York Governor David Paterson, December
15, 2009) {53} (Stables & Elsewhere)51) February 7, 2008. CLANCY DIES.
Clancy, an eight-year-old Percheron, was found dead at the Clinton
Park stables at 618 W. 52nd Street. Clancy reportedly had not worked
since February 2 and was being treated by a licensed veterinarian. When
the ASPCA (then responsible for monitoring carriage horse
welfare) requested Clancy's veterinary records, to determine whether
neglect or abuse were a factor, for the first time the Department of
Health refused them, and told them to FOIL the records. (Freedom of
Information Law.) As Clancy was a young horse, it is speculated that
his cause of death may have been colic caused by poor diet and overwork;
but Clancy's cause of death remains unknown. Stables, 11th Ave. near
52nd St. {54} (Stables & Elsewhere)52) September
14, 2007. SMOOTHIE DIES. 12-year-old mare Smoothie was spooked on the
hack line when a performer from a break-dance troupe walked by the
horses beating a small drum. Smoothie reared up, ran onto the sidewalk
and between two trees about 2 feet apart--she could pass, but her
carriage couldn't, and as she tried to lunge forward in panic, she
collapsed and died on the sidewalk. Her panic caused a second horse,
also attached to a carriage, to dart into traffic and leap on the hood
of a Mercedes-Benz with passengers inside. 50 Central Park South
between 5th & 6th Aves. {20} (Central Park & Environs)53) July
4, 2007. 12-year-old carriage horse Bud spooked on Central Park South
and collided with a taxi, suffering several gashes on his rear legs.
The taxi driver was treated for injuries at New York Hospital, and his
cab suffered significant damage. A motorcyclist's bike was hit with the
carriage and trampled, as the biker tried to leap out of the way.
Central Park South. {21} (Central Park & Environs)54) June
2, 2007. A spooked young horse harnessed to a carriage, with the
driver running behind, galloped into traffic, and was hit by an SUV at
54th Street and 7th Avenue, knocking loose the carriage onto the
sidewalk, barely missing pedestrians. The horse fell to the pavement,
but later rose, dazed and limping. 54th St. & 7th Ave. {55}
(Stables & Elsewhere)55) April
13, 2007. A taxi crashed into a carriage while the horse was working.
The horse was walked back to the stable. Central Park South at Grand
Army Plaza. {22} (Central Park & Environs)56) September
15, 2006. JULIET DIES. Juliet collapsed in Central Park. Her driver
began to beat her with a whip on his veterinarian's orders, he said,
believing she had colic, to try to get her to stand and walk to rid
herself of gas and toxins. But she could not stand; Juliet rose and
collapsed several times. She was trailered to the stable and died there
hours later, reportedly from rhabdomyolysis or "Tying up disease."
Juliet was a lovely Percharon/American draft cross in her 20's, who had
been pulling carriages for at least 17 years. Central Park. {23}
(Central Park & Environs)57) May
5, 2006. A spooked horse pulling a carriage from Shamrock Stable ran
through the street narrowly missing several cars before colliding with
and overturning a moving car, which was badly damaged. The horse
tumbled, then staggered back up, and witnesses observed a gash on the
horse's neck. The driver of the car was hospitalized with wounded
hands. W. 46th St. & 11th Ave. {56} (Stables & Elsewhere)58) April
28, 2006. A young carriage horse on a training run spooked and ran
wild in Central Park crashing into a 71-year-old bicyclist who was
seriously injured and suffered a dislocated leg. The driver of the
empty carriage had lost control of the horse and leapt from the carriage
injuring his knee. The horse had jumped off East Drive and galloped
near 67th St. before continuing west to collide with the bicyclist at
64th St. & Central Drive. The bicyclist and carriage driver were
both hospitalized. 64th St. & Central Drive. {24} (Central Park
& Environs)59) January 2, 2006. SPOTTY DIES.
5-year-old gelding Spotty, in the carriage business only a few months,
returning to Westside Stables, spooked in traffic near the Lincoln
Tunnel and bolted down 9th Avenue. He collided with a station wagon at
50th Street, and was pinned underneath for half an hour, head on the
ground, legs on the roof. Spotty suffered a broken leg. He was
terrified and resistant as he was led away, bucking and kicking, very
afraid, and he was euthanized that day. His driver, who had only eight
months experience with horses, was thrown from the cab and hospitalized
in a coma, critically injured with a fractured skull. The station wagon
passengers suffered minor injuries. 50th St. & 9th Ave. {57}
(Stables & Elsewhere)60) May
13, 2005. Two horses from Chateau Stables galloped through the streets
after their carriage was rear-ended by a van. The carriage flipped over
and freed them around 14th Street and 8th Avenue; the carriage driver
was thrown and landed on his head. Police later caught the horses.
14th St. & 8th Ave. {58} (Stables & Elsewhere)61) October
24, 2003. Two horses spooked, tipping their carriages, and four people
were injured. At 5th Avenue and 61st Street, a carriage horse startled
and reared up, tipping the carriage and dumping two female tourists and
the driver. Another driver came to help, and his horse also spooked and
tipped that carriage in turn, hurting a female passenger. The three
passengers and first driver were taken to hospital for treatment. 5th
Ave. & 61st St. {25} (Central Park & Environs)62) January
22, 2002. A horse pulling a carriage spooked and bolted at 10th Avenue
and 56th Street. His carriage got wedged between two cars, and he was
so unnerved that he needed to be tranquilized. It took several people
to free him. A few cars were damaged. 10th Ave. & 56th St. {59}
(Stables & Elsewhere)63) November
26, 2001. A taxi cab collided with a horse-drawn carriage in the
southern end of Central Park, startling the horse and injuring the
carriage driver. Central Park. {26} (Central Park & Environs) 64) November
9, 2000. A horse broke free of the carriage, bolted, and collided with
a car while galloping down the street. The horse tripped and fell to
the ground, injuring a leg. Chelsea. {60} (Stables & Elsewhere)65) November
2, 2000. A horse broke free from her carriage at Columbus Circle and
hit at least one car as she galloped to Broadway, stopping morning
traffic as people watched in horror. The horse went about half-a-block
before the harness broke, entangling the horse and tripping her. The
horse fell and slid down the street. Columbus Circle/Broadway. {27}
(Central Park & Environs)66) September
5, 2000. A runaway carriage horse broke free from his driver at W.
59th Street and Central Park South, and ran headlong through the streets
of Manhattan. Police moved pedestrians and drivers out of the horse's
path until they blocked his escape at W. 72nd Street and Central Park
West. Central Park. {28} (Central Park & Environs)67) August
27, 2000. Turning a narrow corner in Central Park, the shaft dug into
the horse's side, panicking the horse, who tried to run, slamming the
carriage over on its side and injuring a vacationing British family of
four in a "harrowing tumble." The horse then took off through the park
heading straight for a hot dog vendor who had to jump out of the way.
The tourists were strapped to backboards and taken to hospital for
minor injuries. "We're animal lovers, so we were delighted that the
horse wasn't hurt," said the Mum. "But we're not having any more of
those rides." Just inside Central Park at Central Park South/Avenue of
the Americas entrance. {29} (Central Park & Environs)68) April
27, 2000. A carriage horse, Rocky, broke loose from his midtown
stable. Narrowly missing being hit by a bus, he turned onto Tenth
Avenue, creating havoc as drivers slammed on their brakes to avoid
hitting him. Rocky headed for a traffic agent who had her back to him.
"If I had stood there for another second, he would have killed me," she
said. Rocky was eventually corralled by Craig Rivera, brother of
Geraldo, cutting him off in his Volvo. Tenth Avenue. {61} (Stables
& Elsewhere)69) August 5,
1999. A runaway horse and carriage struck a car, jumped the sidewalk,
and knocked down a 70-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman at 9th Avenue
and 51st Street. The woman was pinned under the horse's rear hoof and
was treated for minor injuries. The man needed a hip replacement
because of the fall. 9th Ave. & 51st St. {62} (Stables &
Elsewhere)70) July 1, 1999. A
horse spooked and the carriage struck two parked cars before the horse
galloped into another car. Chelsea. {63} (Stables & Elsewhere)71) June
28, 1999. A hit-and-run driver smacked into a horse-drawn carriage at
Central Park West and 69th Street, throwing the carriage driver onto the
street and shattering her jawbone, and sending her spooked horse
galloping north on Central Park West. "The gelding's wild run ended
when he bolted into the southbound lane and was hit by an oncoming car."
Miraculously, neither horse nor car driver was injured. The carriage
driver went to hospital. Central Park West. {30} (Central Park &
Environs)72) June 21, 1999. A
carriage horse was startled and threw his driver on Central Park West
and 57th Street. A second carriage driver tried to stop the runaway
horse but failed, sustaining minor injuries. The horse got stuck
between a parked car and a yellow cab, which hit the horse. The yellow
cab driver was injured and hospitalized with head and neck injuries. The
horse's condition is unknown. Central Park West & 57th Street.
{31} (Central Park & Environs)73) January
8, 1999. JACKIE DIES. Only 7-years-old, gentle dapple-grey Jackie
collapsed and died, electrocuted, when she stepped on a steel Con Edison
service box on East 59th Street between Park and Madison Avenues. The
wet weather, a short circuit, and her metal horse shoes caused her
death. The driver suffered minor injuries. E. 59th between Madison and
Park Aves. {32} (Central Park & Environs) 74) April 29, 1998. HORSE DIES.
A horse broke his halter, ran into a busy street, and was killed by an
oncoming car. The driver of the car was treated for back injuries.
Location unknown. {64} (Location unknown)75) January
13, 1998. A runaway horse, Nicky, pulling a carriage sent scores of
Times Square strollers fleeing for their lives. Two passengers jumped
from the careening carriage seconds before it flipped into a light pole
and broke apart at 7th Avenue and 42nd Street; the passengers were taken
to hospital. Nicky was headed toward a hotel entrance when the
carriage flipped. Times Square. {65} (Stables & Elsewhere)76) November
23, 1997. A runaway horse pulling a carriage bolted at Broadway and
Central Park South, banged into a Ford and bounded onto the sidewalk at
Avenue of the Americas and Central Park South, running over a tourist
who was knocked to the ground and dragged a few feet. She was
hospitalized. The carriage driver took off with the horse, who was in
shock, but the driver was later issued a summons by police for leaving
the scene. Central Park South. {33} (Central Park & Environs)77) September
4, 1997. Horses pulling two carriages were spooked by a passing car.
An elderly woman was seriously injured and eight other people hurt.
Location Unknown. {66} (Location Unknown)78) May 1, 1997. HORSE DIES. A
horse pulling a carriage on 49th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues
tripped, then died as he struggled to get up. 49th St. between 7th
& 8th Aves. {67} (Stables & Elsewhere)79) September
2, 1996. HORSE DIES. A 10 to 12-year old horse pulling a carriage
collapsed on the street and died in front of the Ritz-Carlton New York,
Central Park, then known as the Hotel St. Moritz, at 50 Central Park
South, on the east side of 6th Avenue. Ritz-Carlton, 50 Central Park
South. {34} (Central Park & Environs)80) May 6, 1994. HORSE DIES. Another
horse collapsed and died. Diagnosis indicated tying up syndrome, an
extreme cramping of the rear legs, indicating poor horse management
(poor feeding routines, lack of water, inadequate medical attention and
stabling practices). Location Unknown. {68} (Location Unknown) 81) April
21, 1994. HORSE DIES. A horse had to be euthanized after collapsing
in Central Park. Three observers thought the horse had been hit by a
cab, but another said the cause was severe cramps from "tying-up
syndrome" that can cause collapse of the rear legs, brought on by
dehydration and poor dietary management. Central Park. {35} (Central
Park & Environs)82) August
26, 1991. NICKELS DIES. Nickels was euthanized by a veterinarian near
the entrance to the Central Park Zoo, after developing crippling leg
pain, due to "tying-up syndrome," caused by poor horse management (poor
feeding routines, lack of water, inadequate medical attention and
stabling practices). Near Central Park Zoo. {36} (Central Park &
Environs)83) August 12, 1991
(approximately). HORSE DIES. Owned by the same owner as Nickels,
newspapers reported that this horse died two weeks before Nickels, also
in Central Park. While Newsweek speculated that colic may have caused
both deaths, tying-up syndrome fits Nickels' symptoms more closely, and
so may have caused the death of this horse also. Central Park. {37}
(Central Park & Environs)84) May 15, 1990. TONY DIES.
Tony, pulling a carriage, was repeatedly hit by a bus; locked in
traffic, he could not escape. The driver of the carriage behind Tony
deposed: "The bus started to overtake them...weaved in and out of the
right lane, got too close and struck the horse's head with its right
side...The bus continued to move as the horse continued to get struck
and finally went down, losing [his] footing in the asphalt, until [he]
spooked, screamed and fell to [his] death under the bus." She added
that the bus appeared to be "playing" with the carriage. 10th Avenue.
{69} (Stables & Elsewhere)85) May
1990. An accident involving an unattended horse at Grand Army Plaza
resulted in four wrecked yellow cabs and a hospitalized cab driver.
Grand Army Plaza and beyond. {40} (Central Park & Environs)86) May,
1990. A horse panicked and spooked, due to faulty harnessing, ending in
a wild police chase to stop the horse. Location unknown. {39}
(Location Unknown)87) August 15, 1988. WHITEY collapsed of
heat stroke and dehydration in 90 degree heat at 62nd Street and 2nd
Avenue in "hot, steamy weather." 8-year-old light-grey gelding Whitey
from Shamrock Stables struggled to rise for more than two hours on NYC's
200 + degree pavement, and following on Misty's death (see below),
Whitey's struggle was telecast around the world, provoking outrage.
(The law still permits carriage horses to work in 90 degree heat,
without regard to humidity.) Whitey was given IV saline solution, hosed
with cool water for two hours, given painkillers, and later bathed in
mayonnaise to rid his body of tar picked up lying in the street. With
the world watching, the ASPCA ruled that Whitey rest for a month at a
bucolic New Jersey farm--but then he was brought back to work in the
city. Again, following on Misty's death, people were outraged. A Daily
News editorial read, "If torturing an animal on Fifth Avenue is a
tourist attraction, the tourists must be Ostrogoths, Visigoths, and
Huns." But the Mayor--Mayor Koch--only proposed putting hats on horses
to prevent heat stroke. 62nd St. & 2nd Ave. {71} (Stables &
Elsewhere)88) August 7, 1988.
MISTY DIES. A week before Whitey's collapse, 6-year-old mare Misty
collapsed and died of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration from
heat and high humidity. Then, as now, there was no humidity limit for
when the carriage horses could work. The West Side near 12th Avenue.
{70} (Stables & Elsewhere)89) May 23, 1988. A horse pulling a carriage fell into a manhole. Location Unknown. {72} (Location Unknown)90) November
9, 1986. Frightened by a passing car, a horse took off down the
street, crashing into a building. Location Unknown. {73} (Location
Unknown)91) December 9, 1985. CHESTER DIES.
Chester spooked--either his carriage was sideswiped, or a carriage
behind them was hit by a speeding car. Chester bolted down the block
and collided with a limosine at Rockefeller Center, landing on the hood,
smashing the windshield. Chester fell beneath the car, broke his leg,
and was euthanized. Chester belonged to Chateau Stables on W. 48th,
where he "had a quiet disposition that you can train. We used him to
train other horses." Four elderly female tourists--retired
schoolteachers from Boston--were thrown out of the carriage and injured.
They all returned home in wheelchairs and slings, one woman going
blind in one eye due to severe head trauma. There was no compensation
to be had for medical costs, which they couldn't afford. Rockefeller
Center. {74} (Stables & Elsewhere)92) December
9, 1985. [A different incident on same date.] Another carriage horse
broke loose from her handler at 48th Street and Broadway and galloped
toward her stable before being corralled by police at 12th Avenue and
48th Street. 48th St., Broadway to 12th Avenue. {75} (Stables &
Elsewhere)93) December, 1983. (Exact date unknown). DENNIS DIES.
Dennis died at Westside Livery Stables of overwork and poor nutrition
at the holiday season. “One former driver resigned due to the abuse she
witnessed during the holiday season, when drivers up the ante…Her horse
Dennis had been overworked to the point where his legs were wobbly. But
the owner [of the stable], oblivious to the horse’s condition, insisted
he keep working, without a rest break, during a nine-hour day. When
they finally returned to the stables, the horse was shivering and
frothing at the mouth. But the driver was told to report promptly the
next morning at 8 A.M., to take the same horse out again, or she would
lose her carriage. Days after she quit, she learned her horse had died.
‘Horses are fed only oats, the cheapest we can find,’ she attested. No
fresh fruit or vegetables are offered to the carriage horses unless
individual drivers bring their own. Horses are herbivores and need
variation in their diets or they can develop colic (acute spasms and
abdominal pain) which can lead to death.” Westside Livery Stables, 538
W. 38th St., between 10th & 11th Avenues. {38a} (Stables &
Elsewhere)94) December
31, 1982. A carriage horse frightened by New Year's Eve fireworks
charged into a "tidal wave" of densely packed runners at the 10th annual
Road Runners Midnight Run on Central Park's West Drive, injuring 13
people in the screaming melee (including broken bones and at least one
concussion) and knocking down dozens of others, still others trampling
and tripping over the fallen. The injured were rushed to hospitals.
The horse was finally stopped unhurt in the middle of West Drive at
70th Street. West Drive, Central Park. {41} (Central Park &
Environs)95) August 4, 1982. MAGGIO DIES. 12-year old bay gelding collapsed and died at the Central Park South park entrance. {4a} (Central Park & Environs)96) July
18, 1982. HORSE DIES. A carriage horse collapsed and died in the
street while working, due to heat and humidity. Indeed, on this terrible
day, three carriage horses died from the heat and humidity in the
streets of New York. The high that day was 98 degrees. Location
Unknown. {76} (Location Unknown)97) July
18, 1982. HORSE DIES. A second carriage horse collapsed and died in
the streets while working, due to extreme heat and humidity on the same
terrible day. Location Unknown. {77} (Location Unknown)98) July
18, 1982. HORSE DIES. This is the third of the carriage horses who
tragically died in the streets, while working, of high heat and
humidity, on July 18, 1982. Location Unknown. {78} (Location Unknown)

SUMMARY OF THE 23 CARRIAGE HORSE DEATHS IN NEW YORK CITY (included in the list above)Tickles, February 13, 2015. Euthanized when mysteriously discovered in stall with fractured leg.Charlie, October
23, 2011. Collapsed and died, found to have had gastric ulcers and
cracked tooth. Gastric ulcers are principally caused by inadequate
pasture and stress.
Unnamed Horse, September, 2009. Caught his foot in a parking meter and had to be euthanized.Clancy,
February 7, 2008. Clancy, an eight-year-old, male Draft Percheron, was
found dead at the Clinton Park stables on 11th Avenue near 52nd Street
at approximately 10 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, according to stable
personnel. The horse reportedly had not worked since the previous
Saturday, February 2, and was being treated by a licensed veterinarian.
When ASPCA agents requested the horse's records from the department of
Health, administration officials in an unprecedented manner refused to
provide the information and for the first time directed ASPCA agents to
file a FOIA request.Smoothie, September 14, 2007. Spooking accident on the Central Park hack line; Smoothie was spooked by a small drum.Juliet,
September 15, 2006. Juliet, still working into her 20's, after 17
years pulling carriages, collapsed in central Park, possibly of colic,
on September 14; she couldn't rise, and was brought back to the stable,
where she died the morning of September 15, 2006.
Spotty, January 4, 2006. Spooking accident, collided with a station wagon; euthanized for broken leg.Jackie, January
8, 1999. Only 7-years-old, Jackie collapsed and died, electrocuted,
when she stepped on a steel Con Edison service box cover on E. 59th
Street. The wet weather, a short circuit, and her metal horse shoes
caused her death.Unnamed Horse, April 29, 1998. The horse broke his halter, ran into a busy street, and was killed by an oncoming car.Unnamed Horse,
May 1, 1997. Pulling a carriage, the horse tripped, and died while
struggling to get up, on 49th Street, between Seventh and Eighth
Avenues.Unnamed Horse, May 6, 1994. The horse
collapsed and died; diagnosis indicated poor stable management, believed
to be "tying-up syndrome" (extreme cramping of rear legs, which can
cause collapse, leading to death).Unnamed Horse,
April 21, 1994. The horse was euthanized when dietary error led to
severe cramps and collapse in Central Park. Tying-up syndrome was
suspected.Unnamed Horse, September 2, 1991. The horse collapsed and died outside Hotel St. Moritz (now Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park).
Unnamed
Horse, around August 12, 1991. This horse was owned by the same owner
as Nickels. Newspapers reported he died two weeks before Nickels;
Newsweek speculated colic may have caused both deaths.Nickels, August 26, 1991. Nickels was euthanized for crippling leg pain in Central Park.Tony,
May 15, 1990. Tony was trapped in traffic, repeatedly hit by a bus.
"The approaching bus was obscured by his blinders until it was upon
him."Misty, August 7, 1988. Misty, a 6-year-old
mare, collapsed and died of heat exhaustion, working in hot, humid heat.
(Temperature 91 degrees, but very humid.)Chester,
December 9, 1985. Sideswiped in traffic, Chester spooked, bolted down
the block, and jumped onto the hood of a car, smashing the windshield,
at Rockefeller Center. Chester fell beneath the car, broke his leg, and
was euthanized. He was owned by Chateau Stables on W. 48th Street,
where it was said that he "had a quiet disposition that you can train.
We used him to train other horses." Four elderly passengers spilled
from the carriage and were seriously injured.Dennis, December, 1983 (exact date unknown). Dennis died of overwork and inadequate nutrition during the holiday season.Maggio, August 4, 1982. Maggio, a 12-year-old bay gelding, collapsed and died at Central Park South.3 Unnamed Horses,
July 18, 1982. On July 18, 1982, three carriage horses collapsed and
died in New York streets while working, due to heat and humidity; the
high that day was 98 degrees.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++This was Spotty as he was led away limping, seriously injured in this horrific accident. He was euthanized that night.